Hip Pain Overview

The hip is a ball and socket joint that attaches the leg to the torso of the body. In the hip joint, the head of the femur (thighbone) swivels within the acetabulum, the socket, made up of pelvic bones. While many causes of hip pain can arise from the joint itself, there are numerous structures surrounding the hip that can also be the source of pain.

Trauma is often the cause of hip pain, but any source of inflammation may
cause pain in the hip area. Pain is one of the symptoms of inflammation, along
with swelling, warmth, and redness; together these are signals that a problem
may exist.